Rivers United progressed to the playoff round of the CAF Champions League but needed penalties to see off minnows Futuro Kings after their second leg preliminary round tie ended 2-1 on Sunday.

The result meant the tie was level 3-3 on aggregate as the Equatoguineans had won the first leg by a similar scoreline.

First half goals from Kehinde Adedimpe and Godwin Aguda who scored the Nigerians’ only goal in the first leg, put Rivers United in control but Pedro Oba Asu scored after the break to leave Stanley Eguma’s side on edge as the prospect of no Nigerian side making it past the preliminary round loomed large after Kano Pillars exited the competition on Saturday.

Only once before, in 2017, have both Nigerian clubs bowed out in the preliminary round with Wikki Tourists losing to Armed Forces of Sierra Leone and Ifeanyi Ubah to Al Masry of Egypt.

But the home side had the final laugh as they won the penalty lottery 2-0 to ensure Nigerian representation in CAF’s second-tier inter-club competition.